The first cross-border invasion by the Russian armed forces since 1979 has been underway for 14 days. The world has distantly observed Russian forces simply ignore the withdrawal agreement their president signed, roaming here and there deep within Georgia, far from the war zone, occupying “bases” like Khashuri where the Georgian army is allowed to be stationed under the unequal truce agreement. After the nominal ceasefire, the Russian invaders have blown up Georgia’s main east-west transportation artery, “incidentally” crippling the economy, occupied Georgia’s main port, arrested Georgian soldiers far from the combat zone, and towed away military vehicles that belong to the U.S. Army. All the while they have threatened Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, off and on at their whim. We are watching a happy cat playing with a disemboweled mouse.

Russian troop movements are taking place as I write that may be heralded as Russia’s long-delayed withdrawal. But Russians have now produced a map of the “checkpoints” they will claim under their right, granted in the truce agreement, to “implement additional security measures.” The checkpoints include strategic positions on the main east-west transportation artery of Georgia, at Poti (Georgia’s main port), and Senaki, the only Georgian airbase in western Georgia-and a transportation hub controlling most road and rail movement in western Georgia.